I spoke a few weeks ago to a large group of primarily women celebrating women in leadership. My topic – resilience, which means:
“The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.” Oxford Dictionary
We have all experienced and will continue to experience difficulties. “Navigating unforeseen circumstances” is the second unspoken bullet in every leader’s job description, right behind “Provides leadership accountability and responsibility for….” It is also what makes an individual resilient. You can only be resilient if you have experienced navigating difficult situations.
Leading people through adversity is high-stakes leadership. And it’s not easy; if it were, everyone would want to be a leader.
You get to decide the type of leader you’ll be known for. You get to choose what battles are worth the effort, even if you stand to lose. You get to decide how you’ll show up on a daily basis because leaders know that as long as you have a seat, you have a voice. True leaders don’t give up because life, work, and their present circumstances are complex; they embrace the challenge even if they don’t enjoy it in the moment.
For some, this year will end on a high note. For others, not so much. I suspect there are plenty of surprises awaiting us all in the new year. Since I don’t believe in crystal balls, here’s what I’m going to do:
· Bring order to chaos by maintaining focus and adjusting my sails.
· Inspire optimism by focusing on opportunities for growth and progress.
· Refuse to make polarizing statements.
· Reinforce the purpose of leadership.
· Focus on coaching, advising, and developing leaders of influence.
Doing these things and more will help me continue to live my purpose and lead with resiliency while helping others do the same. Here’s to a fantastic start to the U.S. holiday season.
Pam
